Rolla man charged with kidnapping and assault

Wednesday

A Rolla man was arrested after allegedly physically assaulting a woman and attempting to force her into a vehicle. Wesley C. Buchanan, age 24, has been charged with domestic assault and kidnapping.

On Feb. 5, at approximately three o’clock in the morning, officers responded to a report of a female screaming for help, according to the case’s probable cause statement. The statement also said there was further information indicating a male subject was “trying to force a female into a vehicle."

According to the probable cause statement, the individual who reported the incident did not know the suspect or victim and reported hearing the female scream, “Help,” “Leave me alone,” “and Get off me.” The statement also said the individual reported the female ran off and the male ran after her, out of sight.

An officer arrived at the location and located a female at the end of the parking lot, who approached him, according to the probable cause statement. Behind her, the officer observed a vehicle with an open door. When asked what happened, the female reported that Wesley Buchanan was trying to get her into the vehicle. A search of the area by other officers was completed and Buchanan was located nearby. Buchanan was taken into custody.

The officer interviewed the female subject, according to the probable cause statement, who told him she and Buchanan had an argument which initially started at Buchanan’s residence in Rolla. During the argument, Buchanan allegedly took away her cell phone, and told her he did so so “she could not talk to anyone or call the police.” The victim told the officer the argument escalated when Buchanan threw her onto the bed and “got on top of her.”

Buchanan allegedly bit her chest and shoulder and pulled her hair, according to the probable cause statement, and placed both his hands around her neck and strangled her. The victim told the officer she blacked out, and the argument continued after she woke up. Buchanan allegedly threw her on the bed a second time after going through her bag. The victim told the officer that he allegedly strangled her a second time and she once again blacked out.

According to the probable cause statement, the victim said she was eventually able to leave the apartment, but Buchanan followed her. She was able to convince Buchanan she had to “retrieve her jacket from a friend’s house,” a location that they had been earlier. Buchanan drove the two of them, according to the statement, but instead of taking the direct route, drove “into the county.”

The victim told the officer that Buchanan was driving recklessly, at a high speed and while driving, allegedly told her he was going to kill her and himself. Buchanan also allegedly told her his friend died on the same road they were driving on.

The probable cause statement said the victim was able to stop the vehicle and tried to get out. However, Buchanan allegedly “reached over and closed the door, and then pushed her head, slamming the other side of her head against the passenger door window.”

The two arrived at Oak Ridge Apartments, according to the probable cause statement. The victim told the officer that once at the friend’s, she retrieved her jacket and “pleaded with Buchanan” to allow her to stay there. She told the officer that Buchanan allegedly pushed her out of the apartment.

The victim told the officer that once outside, she walked in the direction of a nearby fraternity house to get away from Buchanan. He allegedly picked her up and brought her towards his vehicle. In the probable cause statement, she told the officer she was able to “wriggle free” and tried to leave, but Buchanan again allegedly picked her up and took her back to his vehicle.

It was at this point the officer arrived on the scene and Buchanan fled, according to the probable cause statement.

Buchanan’s bond appearance hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 9:00 a.m.. Buchanan’s bond was posted in the amount of $50,000.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.